“These guys know what playing USC is supposed to mean,” coach Willie Bloomquist said. “I was expecting a little better tonight from our guys.”

ASU’s two through five hitters went 1 for 15 at the plate, producing just a double and a walk throughout Tuesday’s 6-3 loss. 

When Arizona State did get the big hits, there was rarely anyone on. A single walk, compared to the 12 combined between the Saturday and Sunday games in Fort Worth, contributed to the absence of baserunners for the Sun Devils.  

“Walks are the result of being aggressive in the zone and putting the pitcher on defense,” coach Willie Bloomquist said. “Versus allowing him to dictate the tempo, which is what we did tonight.”

Even when ASU did manage to put up good swings, the ball seemed to perform like steel, always finding a magnet in the Trojan’s gloves. 

Matt King had his last two at-bats end in hard lineouts, the earlier of which coming from a leaping grab by USC shortstop Bryce Grudzielanek, a catch that looked approximately 10 feet off the ground.

“Barrels just didn’t really fall the way they should’ve today,” second baseman Kyle Walker said. 

Walker was one of just three Sun Devils to secure multiple hits. He collected an RBI single in the seventh inning, the final run scored in the game for Arizona State.

USC got four solid innings out of their midweek starter, Andrew Johnson, who allowed just a pair of Sun Devils to cross home plate while striking out two.   

The more impressive outing for the Trojans came from their bullpen, who only allowed one run over the remaining five innings, an effort that sealed the deal for ASU’s chances. 

Bloomquist mentioned how they could’ve used another dynamic bat tonight, and this weekend could see the return of one. 

Bloomquist said it “isn’t out of the possibility” that Kien Vu could see a return to the lineup this weekend.

Jaden Alba was in the same conversation, as Bloomquist also said Alba would be throwing a bullpen in the next couple days, prompting his potential return. 

Wyatt Halvorson got the start for ASU, his first of the season after starting in seven games his freshman season last year. Halvorson entered the start with three and two-thirds scoreless under his belt on the injury-shortened season.  

Halvorson only got through two innings, as a tough first inning ran up his pitch count and limited his outing. His only run given up, however, would come in the second inning off a Dean Carpentier RBI triple. 

The bullpen was a mixed bag of results. Josh Butler and Will Koger combined for five earned through four and two-thirds, but Cole Carlon and Lucas Kelly came in and kept USC off the scoreboard through the end of the game. 

A significant sum of USC’s offensive production came from Carpentier, who ended the day 2-4 with a triple, a homer and three RBIs. 

Jax Ryan and Brody Briggs both provided Arizona State with a couple of bright spots in the loss. Ryan and Briggs had two hits a piece, getting on base a combined five times. 

Briggs also threw out two base runners Tuesday, a sign that his defense could help play him into the lineup more often. 

Both Ryan and Briggs contributed a lot of their growth this season to being surrounded by great veteran leadership from King, Walker, and Josiah Cromwick.  

“I think we feed off each other really well,” Briggs said. “Every single day I learn from them.”

The Sun Devils now focus on their weekend series against the Kansas Jayhawks, who are tied for the most wins in the Big 12 following their midweek loss to Arizona. 

“If we come out playing flat, we're not going to be successful,” Ryan said.